GORHAM, Me. –Seven different players won draws to help the Eastern Connecticut State University women's lacrosse team to a +8 advantage in that category as the Warriors opened their Little East Conference season with an 8-6 victory over the University of Southern Maine Saturday afternoon at Hannaford Field.

The win is the third straight overall for Eastern (5-4, 1-0 LEC) and snaps a four-game skid against Southern Maine (1-5, 0-1 LEC), the last three coming on USM's home field, including a 19-18 overtime setback last year in the first round of the LEC tournament.

Eastern's defense forced 28 turnovers and did not allow the Huskies  another shot after Sam Campobasso gave USM its final lead, 6-5, with 20 minutes left in the second half. USM had all five of its second-half shots in a span of two minutes in the second half, capped by Campobasso's go-ahead goal.

Schneider tied the match for Eastern – the fifth and final tie – with 14 minutes left, and Burke unloaded the game-winner 68 seconds later to give the Warriors the lead for good, 7-6.

Junior Paige Schneider (East Lyme) had 12 of Eastern's 32 shots, scoring three times, with sophomore Katie Burke (South Windsor) adding two goals and two assists. Freshman Michelina Pinto (Groton) won three draws, with sophomore Maggie Bodington (Stratford), Schneider and junior Devyne Doran (South Kingstown, RI) each winning two. Schneider, Doran, sophomore Taylor Behn (Amherst, NH) and sophomore Jenna Glynn (West Granby) all picked up two ground balls.

Junior goalie Taylor Emmerson (Colchester) stopped six shots, needing only two in the second half.

Eastern visits Gordon College Saturday at noon.